Draw-bridge



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. GROVES.

DRAW BRIDGE.

Patented July 21, 1885, 7 i

men far: W

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. GROVES.

DRAW BRIDGE.

N0. 322,708. Patented July 21,1885

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrron.

JOSIAH GROVES, or PULLMAN, ILLINOIS.

D RAW-BRl DGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,708, dated July 21,1885.

Application filed June 1, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknownthat I, J OSIAH GRovEs, of Pullman, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDraw-Bridges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use it, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in draw-bridges; and it consistsin, first, the combination of a pivoted bridge provided with I 5inclined arms at each end with automatically- ;acting sections of a gateor fence which rise fvertically r pward, so as to close the roadway'pvhen the as is turned so as to allow vessels to pass, and whichsections are provided with horizontal projections over which theinclined arms catch for the purpose of depressing the sections when thegaklis returned to position; second, the combination of a pivoted bridgehaving scrapers applied to opposite ends with gutters which are formedat the ends of the roadway,where the ends of the bridge overlap, wherebyall of the dirt that drops into the gutters at the ends of the bridge isswept out each time that the gate is opened and closed; third, thecombination of the pivoted bridge with the spring-actuated arms, whichare inclined on their under sides with the pulleys and chains, and theoperating-shaft for closing them, so that they will be out of the way of3 5 passing vessels; fourth, the arrangement and combination of thedevices, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to close the roadway at each end of thebridge by auto- 0 matically-acting sections of a gate or fence, whichrise upward and form barriers to pre' vent persons and animals fromfalling into the water below while the bridge is open, and whichautomatically sink out of View as the 5 bridge is again closed.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a draw-bridge in an open position embodyingmy invention complete. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 isa detached view of the sections of the gate or fence. Figs. 4, 5, 6 aredetail views.

A represents the draw-bridge, which may be of any construction that maybe preferred. A bridge of ordinary construction having a roadway throughits center and a passage for pedestrians at each side thereof is hereshown; but I do not limit myself toany details of construction in thisrespect. This bridge is pivoted upon a suitable pier or other support,B, at its center, and turns horizontally around when opened for thepurpose of allowing vessels to pass through.

Secured to the under side of the bridge, at each end, is a hanger, G, tothe lower ends of which are pivoted suitable arms, E, havingbearing-plates which are inclined upon their under sides, as shown, andwhich, when left free to move, are forced outward by suitable springs orother equivalent devices, F.

Secured to the free end of each arm is a chain, G, which is connected atits inner end to a drum, H, which is operated by means of a shaft, I,which projects above the top of the bridge, and which is provided with ahandwheel, J upon its top.

To one side of each hand-wheel is secured a hanger, projection, or stop,K, which catches against the top edge of the railing L, and thusprevents the drum from unwinding, and keeps the springs, which areconnected to the arms, from moving them outward. These arms are intendedto be closed inward under the edge of the bridge while the bridge isstanding open, so as to leave a clear passage for vessels which arepassing through the draw. WVhen the bridge is about to be closed, theshaft I is raised upward far enough to release the stop or catch fromthe railing, and then the springs connected to the arms throw their freeends outward for the purpose of depressing the sections of the gate orfence. After the bridge has been closed, and it is desired to closethese arms again, the shaft I must again be raised upward and turnedaround, and then lowered so that the stop or catchwill catch behind therailing, and thus lock the arms in a closed position.

Secured to the arms near their outer ends are the guides, braces, orsupports M, which extend horizontally inward through suitableguiding-loops, N.which are secured to the un-- der side of the bridge,and thus help both to support the arms in position at their outer endsand prevent them from sagging, and at the same time guide the arms intheir movements.

At each end of the roadway, where the end of the bridge connectstherewith, are formed the gutters N ,which form asegment of a circle,and into which the dirt from the roadway and the bridge falls. For thepurpose of cleaning out these gutters, there are secured to the oppositeends of the bridge vertical adjustable scrapers O, which conform to theshape of the gutter,'and which move therein as the bridge is turned uponits pivot for the purpose of cleaning the gutters out. These scrapersare made vertically adjustable, so that their lower ends can be adjusted.in any desired relation to the bottom of the gutter.

Placed preferably inside of the gutter, and also forming segments of acircle, are the sections 1? of a gate or fence, which form a barrieracross the roadway,when the bridge is open, for thepurpose of preventingpersons and animals from falling into the water below. These sections,of which there may be any desired r number, and which may be of anysuitable construction, have their upper ends pass through suitableopenings or guides,which are constructed especially for them.

Upon the lower end of each section is formed a horizontal projection,Q,which extends outward over the water, and which serve for the curvedarms, which are pivoted to the ends of the bridge to press upon for thepurpose of,

depressing the sections in regular order as the gate is being closed.

Connected to each section is a chain,R,which passes up over a suit-ableguiding-pulley, S, and has a suitable counter-weight, T, secured to itslower end. These counter -weights, springs, or other equivalent devices,serve to instantly raise the sections upward as soon as the bridgebegins to open, and thus auto matically close the roadway as fast as thebridge is opened. \Vhen the bridge is being closed, the arms catch inregular succession over the tops of these projections and force themdownward, thus causing the sections to sink down out of the way untilthe bridge is again opened. By having the arms curved on their undersides, as here shown, each section is closed in its regular order andjust before the end of the bridge reaches it. In this manner the roadwayis kept closed, at all times when the bridge is not in position. Shouldthe bridge be only partially closed there will still be sectionsstanding across the roadway so as to stop all travel over that part ofthe roadway which is' not closed by the bridge. By this construction thegate-keeper standsin the middle of the bridge and both operates thebridge and closes the roadway at each end at the same time, thusrequiring only a single person to do all of the work that is necessary.

At each end of the roadway are placed suitable friction-rollers, uponwhich the ends of the bridge rest, and connected to each end of j thebridge are suitable latches which lock it in position after it has beenclosed.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination oftheturning bridge,the spring-actuated arms E, pivoted to each end, theguides M, chains G, the drums H, and shafts l, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of a turning drawbridge with pivoted arms, which arecon- 'nected to opposite ends thereof, with automatically and verticallymoving sections of a gate or fence, which are provided with projectionsfor the arms to catch over and depress the sections as the gate is beingclosed.

3. The combination of the draw-bridge. pivoted spring actuated armshaving inclined edges attached to each end,the chains connected to theends of the arms, the drum around which the chains are passed, the shaftconnected to the drum, and the stop connected to the shaft for holdingthe arms in a closed position, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the bridge,the scrapers connected thereto, and thegutters, substantially as sh own.

In testimony whereofI affix my-signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH GROVES. Witnesses:

OHARLEs W. HENDRY, WILLIAM WV. STEWART.

